The port is set to increase container capacity to 28m tonnes a year by 2020, from the current 14m tonnes. In the second phase of the expansion water levels will be deepened to 15.5 metres at the port.

“Deepening and strengthening of the berths will allow big container ships to dock in Dar es Salaam. All these efforts are being done in order to increase competitiveness of the port,” works, transport and communications minister Makame Mbarawa said.

He said during negotiations the contractor agreed to reduce its price and completion times.

East Africa’s second-biggest economy aims to exploit its long coastline so that it can serve the growing economies in the land-locked heart of Africa.

Mbarawa added that the country would build a railway with trains capable of travelling at 120kmh, which will cut journey time from the port to Kigali, Rwanda from 23hrs to 13hrs.